THE Echo's present chief photographer, Stephen Shakeshaft, has been involved with football photography since the Sixties.

He recalls: "Working at Fortress Anfield or following the Reds all over the world as they made history was a wonderful experience, although it has always had its challenging moments.

"As a young photographer I can remember the majesty of the Kop in the Sixties. It was united as one in praise the little man with his arms out wide who embraced his family of thousands - the great Bill Shankly.

"As photographers, we had unlimited access then which is not the case today. We could reach out and touch the stars and legends of the day.

"The black and white pictures we took sum up the period. We were allowed to lie right alongside the posts on the goal line and when you pointed your lens, you were right in the middle of the action.

"We were almost on pitch at this time. These days the photographs are held well back and forced to use a long lens, which provides a very different type of picture. We would be in the corridor before game chatting to Shanks.

"Kevin Keegan would walk past in his shorts and carrying his shirt and boots. Bill would say 'Hi son, what's happening?' We would all be chatting about that day's game.

"Shanks would say, 'Don't press that flash in here son. You'll blind them before the game.' I can never imagine any photographer at any level having that type of closeness now.

"We travelled on the team bus with both Liverpool and Everton and as part of the set-up and obviously we were trusted.

"It left you with this catalogue of memories and funny stories.

"Photographers and fans could go to the Melwood training ground in those days and walk straight in. No security gates for Bill Shankly. I remember going up there when it was snowing.

"Larry Lloyd had just signed and I was walking round the pitch snapping shots. Bill said 'What do you think of him son?' I said 'Big lad'. Bill shouted 'BIG? He'd kick his own mother!'

"It was just amazing that he had asked your opinion in the first place. He wanted to know what you thought. Then he'd have a joke a joke and give you stick.

"We were in a London hotel It was Saturday morning and most of the players were either in bed or out for a walk. Young striker Alan Waddle was in the hotel lounge on his own.

"He joined me. Then the door opened and Bill walked in. He was immaculate in his grey suit and red tie. He was looking for someone to talk to and he sat down.

"Alan was reading Tolkien's Lord Of The Rings, which was amazing for footballer. Bill wanted to start a conversation with Alan, but wasn't sure how to get the player's nose out of the book. I'm sure big Alan was just in awe of the boss.

"Bill said 'Reading a book son? Lord Of The Rings? Is it about boxing?' Alan shook his head. 'Anything to do with circuses?'

"Alan looked up and said 'It's about the supernatural' to which Bill replied 'Supernatural? Aye, the opposition will get a taste of that this afternoon!'

"When you were taking pictures at games in those days you were lying down on your tummy. This was so you didn't block the view of fans behind you who would let you know if they had an obstructed view.

"We were also using these small lenses and so we had to be close to the goal to capture the action. We would be chatting away to the keepers and it was a wonder we didn't cause more goals to fly in with all this distraction going on.

"The picture of Ron Yeats flying through the air, is one of my all-time favourites. I was not even sure he was in the frame of camera because he came from a blind spot over my right shoulder.

"It was as if he flew in from nowhere. There was no technical work on the image. The ball thundered into net with Ronnie looking as if he was jumping over the stand. It summed up the power and glory of Liverpool at that time as Bill began to build his first great team.

"Later I would see the pain when Shanks left Liverpool. I was standing outside the ground with him on the day he left and felt the emotion in the man.

"He was with some fans, but he suddenly turned to me and said 'Have I made the right decision son?' What a question to have to try and have to answer. It summed up his strength, yet his vulnerability.

"It brought into my mind all of the pictures I had taken of his down the years. Two of my favourites are featured here; both taken at Wembley on what would be his last appearance as Liverpool manager. The first image shows a thoughtful, Shankly, alone with his thoughts.

"He clearly knew what was to come. The second features two Scousers who rushed across the pitch to salute him. One had big beard and a giant LFC top hat. The other had a typical drooping moustache.

"They both looked tough characters, but they wept as they met Bill and dropped to their knees in front of him. I stayed behind Shanks to capture the picture. I wanted to see the expressions on the faces of these men. They just broke down as soon as they put their arms around Bill. It sums the adulation he generated.

"Another of my favourites pictures was from years later - the age of Ian Rush. I captured Rushie's through a crack in dressing room door as he listened to a tam talk. Again, it's a picture you couldn't take now.

"I also loved Bob Paisley. His modesty always came over. He was not a man of many words, but he would tell you about his life and the people of the North East where he came from.

"One of my pictures shows him with his mates from his home village of Hetton-le-Hole. Bob looks happy and relaxed. He didn't go for big impressions and would not have been talking up his achievements. He didn't have to.

"I also remember photographing him near the end when he wasn't too well. I took him with the replicas of the European Cups he had won. He couldn't remember what they were for as the Alzheimer's had begun to set in by then. I felt so humble and sad on his behalf. He was the most successful manager of all time.

"I covered three European Cup Finals. The first in Rome and the second when Kenny Dalglish scored at Wembley against Bruges.

"Again, I was behind the scenes and in the middle of it. The Echo wanted a new pictured the day after the Wembley triumph. The team had stayed at the Holiday Inn at Swiss Cottage and I was in there looking for the European Cup.

"Not surprisingly, it was in Kenny's room and I knocked on his door. Marina was ironing, getting ready for the homecoming. Kenny was having a coffee with the Cup alongside him.

"I asked him to get back in bed to be photographed with this most famous of trophies. I actually walked out of the bedroom with the European Cup, trying to find Alan Hansen to get another image for that night's Echo.

"He was sitting in the bath and I put the Cup in the soap rack to get another amazing personal image. I then took the European Cup down to reception and asked them to lock it in the safe. Imagine being able to do that now!"

Stephen's selection of images from the A-Z of Liverpool's Greatest Pictures includes a more recent image that emphasises that the Liverpool spirit lives today.

It was taken by one of the Echo's top football photographers Colin Lane of Jamie Carragher in Istanbul, in amongst the banners after the game saluting the fans. It sums up the true grit of Liverpool.

Other pictures include the famous Boot Room on the day Kenny Dalglish became manager. Bob Paisley in action, not on the Anfield pitch, but in the main car park where training sessions used to unfold!

Then there is a great image of Billy Liddell and Co. walking through that same car park. The players look as if they have been kitted out in a charity shop, but were they worried about image and status? Billy Liddell was ego-free, but what would he have been worth today?

Phil Thompson is featured walking the hills of his beloved Kirkby, an award-winning photograph for Stephen.

Not a Shakeshaft picture, but equally atmospheric is an amazing shot of Shankly and Paisley in one of their legendary five-a-sides at Melwood.

The quality of every image is a tribute to the Echo photographers who went before and still do the business today.

Stephen says: "Every game they have to produce pages of top class imagery, no matter how bad the game might have been. Our photographers do that in style.

"It's a difficult job to do. They are very much the content of the sandwich between the players and the crowd. They have to concentrate 100 percent.

"The archive they have helped to build up for the Echo, part of which is featured superbly in this new LFC book, is remarkable and it's only the tip of iceberg."